Tape coding attachment



Jan. 4, 1966 F. G. HILL 3,227,080

TAPE CODING ATTACHMENT Original Filed Jan. 2, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR FORREST G. HILL BY fW,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 F. G. HILL TAPE CODING ATTACHMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Original Filed Jan. 2, 1962 INVENTOR FORREST G- H l LL ATTORNEYS Jan.4, 1966 F. G. HILL 3,227,080

TAPE CODING ATTACHMENT Original Filed Jan. 2, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 26v I 26 20 4o 39 4o 20 INVENTOR J FORREST G- HILL 7 BY g d, 3 I 1 FIG. 6W* ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1966 F. G. HILL 3,

TAPE CODING ATTACHMENT Original Filed Jan. 2, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I00loo IIIIIIII INVENTOR FORREST G. HILL ATTORNEYS ent Widths of tapespassing through the coder.

United States Patent '7 Claims. (Cl. 101-228) This invention relates toa tape coder for printing code designations upon tape stock traveling athigh speed through the tape coder. This application is a divisionalapplication of copending application, Serial No. 163,837 filed January2, 1962.

In brief, the tape coder comprises a frame which supports variousoperating parts, the main functions of which are to feed and guide tapethrough the coder. These operating parts include a pair of space sideguide plates and front and back guide plates between which the tape isfed and a guide roller against which the tape presses and which rotatesas the tape passes through the machine. The adjustable guide plates andthe guide roller are positioned toward the tape entrance side of theframe. The frame also supports a polished platen roller that provides arotating backing surface for the tape during a printing operation. Atthe tape exit end of the frame, there is another roller that not onlyguides the tape as it leaves the tape coder, but also keeps the tapeflat as it passes across the platen roller.

The side guide plates, that are movable toward and away from oneanother, provide an adjustment for differ- Once these guide plates areset for a specific tape, no further adjustment has to be made, and thetape is automatically fed straight through the machine. These guideplates, together with the tape exit roller and the front and back guideplates, eliminate misalignment of the tapes that otherwise causes thetape to buckle and tear.

A roller frame casting is pivotally supported by the frame and itselfsupports a die roller assembly, a transfer roller assembly, and an inkapplying assembly. The die roller assembly carries a rubber printingplate and the transfer roller receives ink from the ink applyingassembly and spreads it evenly upon the printing surfaces of theprinting plate as the die roller assembly rotates. The roller framecasting is spring biased in a direction to urge the die wheel assemblytoward the platen roller. However, there is a lever that permits lockingof the roller frame casting with the die wheel assembly moved r awayfrom the platen roller.

having means for feeding and guiding tape through the coder at highspeed and means for printing unblurred code indications upon the tape asit travels through the coder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape coder havingadjustable side guide plates movable toward and away from one anotheraccording to the width of tape being fed through the machine and havingtape exit guide means. The side guide plates straddle the tape withlittle clearance as the tape enters the machine. The

Patented Jan. 4, 1966 front and back guide plates keep the tape flatthrough the coder. The tape coder also has a roller at the tape exitwith the tape making part of a turn about the exit roller to furtherguide the tape through the coder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape coder having meansfor continuously applying a fi m of ink onto a transfer roller which, inturn, appliesink uniformly to the printing surfaces of a rubber printingplate as it rotates past the transfer roller. A further object is toprovide means for adjusting the contact pressure between the transferroller and the printing surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape coding machinehaving means to feed and guide tape therethrough with a platen rolleracross which the tape passes and a die wheel opposite the platen rollerand movable toward the platen roller, the die wheel having a rubberprinting plate carried upon its outer surface for rotation past theplaten roller to print coding upon tape passing between the platenroller and the die wheel, the die wheel having hard rubber rings orwheels on opposite sides of the printing plate which engage the platenroller to provide an anti-skid drive between the platen roller and thedie wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape coder having a diewheel carrying a rubber printing plate and a platen roller opposite thedie wheel for guiding tape past the die wheel with means for applyingink to the printing surfaces of the printing plate, the ink supplyingmeans being free of control valves, metered orifices, and adjustmentrequirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape coder having arotary printing plate with a transfer roller for receiving inks from afelt pad and applying the ink to the printing surfaces of the rotaryprinting plate, the transfer roller being made of a phenolic substanceto provide less friction with the felt, thereby producing a longer feltlife, and also providing good inking characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape coder having a diewheel comprising a plurality of thermoplastic discs mountedside-by-side, the discs having high radial stability, but beinglongitudinally flexible to allow ready insertion of a plurality ofprojecting grooves of a rubber printing plate and to thereafter supply arigid radial support for the printing plate, thereby providing fast andaccurate rubber type mounting.

Another object is to provide a tape coder having a .die wheel assemblythat is light in weight and that has high durometer rubber wheels forengaging a platen roller across which tape moves and against which aprinting operation is performed during rotation of the die wheelassembly. The high durometer tires provide virtually no skid between theplaten roller and the die wheel assembly, and the light weight of thedie wheel assembly provides low inertia forces of the die wheel assemblyto reduce skidding during a printing operation.

Another object is to provide means to apply a high pressure between thedie wheel assembly and the platen roller to yield a more positive drivebetween the fast moving tape and the printing surfaces of the die wheel.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the tape coder;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the tape coder;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation view of the tape coder;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view in section taken along the line d4 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a View in section taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a view in section taken along the line '77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view on a reduced scale of a side plate;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the front guide plate;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the back guide plate;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevation view partly in section of the rollerframe casting, the die wheel assembly, and the transfer roller assembly;

FIGURE 12 is an isometric view of the ink pad and ink pad holder;

FIGURE 13 is an isometric view of the ink reservoir casting; and

FIGURE 14 is an end elevation view on a slightly enlarged scale of aprinting plate.

The tape coder has two side or mounting plates 20, shown alone in FIGURE8, between which all of the operating parts and assemblies are mounted.The side plates have the irregular shape shown in FIGURE 8, includingthe hook 21 which cooperates with other parts to facilitate mounting ofthe tape coder on specific tape machines, but otherwise the shape of theplates 20 is not essential to the operation of the tape coder. Each sideplate 20 has holes 22, 23, 24, 25, 2d and 2'7 through it, four smallerholes 28, 29, and 31, and a rectangular slot 32. Various parts aremounted within these holes as will be described.

A pair of roller assemblies 33 are mounted within the rectangular slots32. These roller assemblies 33 are a part of the mounting mechanism ofthe tape coder and do not affect the operation of it.

A tie rod 34 is connected between the lower ends of the plates 23. Thetie rod 34 is fastened to the plates by Allen head screws 35 which arepassed through the holes 27 in the side plates 20. The tie rod 34 hasthree transverse or diametric bores 36 for a purpose to appear.

Another tie rod 37 is connected between the plates 20 by Allen headscrews 33 which are connected through the holes 24 in the side plates20.

A guide roller 39, shown particularly in FIGURE 6, is mounted betweenthe side plates 20. The guide roller 39 is rotatably journaled within apair of bushings 40 that are fitted within the holes 26 in the sideplates 20.

A roller shaft 43 is connected between the plates 21 by Allen headscrews 44 and 45 which extend through the holes 23 in the side plates20. The screw 45 also serves another connecting purpose which will bedescribed. A polished platen roller 46 is rotatable about the shafts 43upon ball bearings 47.

Another roller shaft 48 is mounted between the upper ends of the plates2%. The shaft 48 is fastened by Allen head screws 49 that extend throughthe holes 22 in the side plates 20. A polished tape exit roller 50 isrotatable about the shaft 48 upon ball bearings 51.

A back guide plate 54 is mounted between the side plates 2% in aposition sli htly forward of the guide roller 39. The guide plate 54 hasa wide plate portion 55 at its lower end with tabs 56 that fit withinthe holes 29 and 31 in the side plates 29. A narrower strip 57 extendsupwardly from the wide plate portion 55 past the guide roller 39 andbeyond the tie rod 37 to the forward side thereof. A short flange 58extends below the wide plate portion 55.

A front guide plate 60 has a wide plate portion 61 with end tabs 62 thatfit within the holes 28 in the side plates 21. The wide plate portion 61is positioned rearward of the platen roller 46 and is curved downwardlyand forwardly, as shown in FIGURE 4. A thin strip 63 extends below thewide plate portion 61. The thin strip 63 continues the forward curvatureof the wider plate portion at and extends below and slightly forward ofthe tie rod 37. The thin strip 63 is fastened by a screw 64 to the tierod 37. There is a fairly sharp bend 65 in the strip 63 which is spacedslightly from the strip 57 of the back guide plate 54. Then the thinstrip 63 has a portion 66 that extends downwardly and rearwardly pastthe front side of the guide roller 39.

A guide pin 69 is fastened between the side plates 20 by Allen headscrews 79 which fit within the holes 25 in the side plates 26. The guidepin 69 has a plurality of peripheral groves 71 on opposite sides of itscenter. The guide pin 69 supports a pair of left and right guideassemblies 72 and 73. These are shown particularly in FIGURES 6 and 7.Each guide assembly comprises a cylindrical block 74 having a passage 75through it that allows the block to he slid along the guide pin 69.There is a recess 76 within each cylindrical block 74 and a ball 77within each recess is urged by a spring 78 into one of the peri heralgrooves 71 to releasably lock the cylindrical blocks 74 in any one ofseveral selected positions along the guide pin 69.

The outer end of each cylindrical block 74 has a hub 79 on it with aperipheral groove 81) for receiving a guide plate 81. Each guide plate31 has a hole 82 through its lower end which loosely receives the guideroller 39. At its upper end, each guide plate 81 has another hole 83through it for loosely receiving the tie rod 37. Hence, the guide plates81 are slidable with the cylindrical blocks 74, not only along the guidepin 69, but also along the guide roller 39 and along the tie rod ST Thespace between the guide plates 81 can thus be adjusted according to theWidth of tape being fed through the machine.

A roller frame casting shaft 36 is mounted between the side plates 29 byAllen head screws 87 to extend through the holes 31 in the side plates21 The shaft 86 supports a roller frame casting 89, shown particularlyin FIGURE 11. The roller frame casting 89 has a pair of sidearms 91 heldtogether by a crossplate 91 that extends across the lower portions ofthe side arms. The side arms have holes 92 through their lower endswhich loosely receive the shaft 86. Hence, the casting 89 is pivotalabout the shaft 86.

A die wheel assembly 93 is supported between the upper ends of the arms99. For this support, there is a hole 94 through the upper end of theone of the arms 99 for receiving a roller shaft 95. An end 9d of theshaft 95. An end 96 of the shaft extends beyond the arm 9t? and isknurled, as shown in FIGURE 11. The upper end of the other arm 9% has asmaller hole 97 through it for receiving a threaded lockout stud 93which is threaded into the end of the roller shaft 95.

The die wheel assembly 93 includes a roller hub 99 which is journaledupon ball bearings 1% and is rotatable about the roller shaft 95.Integral with one end of the roller hub 99 is a radial wheel 1831 havinga high durometer (50 or more) rubber ring 162 sprung into a groove 163about its outer perimeter. Another radial wheel 164 is removable fromthe hub 99, but is held in place by a lock ring 195. The wheel 164 alsohas a high durometer rubber ring 1% sprung into a groove 107 about itsperiphery. A plurality of thermoplastic discs 10% are tightly mountedupon the hub 99 between the wheels m1 and 19 3. Each disc 108 has athick base 199 near the hub 99 with a thinner web 11% extending radiallyoutwardly from the base 109. Each disc 108 also has a peripheral bead111 surrounding the web 110. The discs 10% are pressed tightly togetherat their bases but the beads 111 are small enough in diameter so thatthere is a space between them. The thin webs lltl allow for some lateralmovement of the beaded edges 111, but the discs 108 are stiff or rigidin a radial direction.

An ink transfer assembly 115 is mounted between the casting arms 99below the die wheel assembly. The assembly 115 includes a transferroller shaft 116 that extends through holes 117 in the arms 99. An end118 of the shaft extends beyond one of the arms 90 and is knurled as isshown in FIGURE 11. The other end 119 of the shaft 116 is threaded andis locked in place by a lock nut 129. A phenolic transfer roller 121 ismounted upon a pair of brass bushings 122 that are rotatably journaledupon the shaft 116. As can be seen in FIG- URE 11, the bushings 122 aremounted upon a central portion 123 of the shaft 116, and the axis of thecentral portion 123 is eccentric to the axes of the ends 118 and 119 ofthe shaft. Hence, rotation of the shaft 116 (by rotating the knurled end118) moves the transfer roller 121 toward or away from the die wheelassembly, thus allowing adjustment of the pressure between the transferroller 121 and the rubber rings 106. The transfer roller has grooves 124that tend to keep ink from flowing to the outer edges which contact therubber rings 1116.

A stud 128 is threaded to the casting S9 and extends forwardly thereofbetween the lower ends of the arms 91). A reservoir casting 129, shownin FIGURE 13, has a rear wall 130 with an upper flange 131 that restsupon the upper side of the connecting plate 91 of the roller framecasting. The wall 136 also has a lower boss 132 with a hole 133 throughit for receiving the stud 123. The reservoir casting 129 is held inplace by threading a knurled reservoir nut 13 onto the stud 128. Theupper flange 131 keeps the reservoir 129 aligned between the arms 90.The reservoir 129 has an ink wall 134 de- There are a pair of beads 138in the center of the front wall 136 that define a vertical groove 139between them.

An ink pad holder 142 fits within the ink reservoir casting, as shown inFIGURE 4. The ink pad holder 142 has a back 143, a top flange 144 andside flanges 145. A pair of arms 146 extend rearwardly of the sideflanges 145 and each has a bifurcated end 147 that straddles thetransfer roller shaft 116 within a groove 148 thereon. (See FIGURE 11).A felt ink pad 150 fits within the ink pad holder 142, between the sideflanges 145 and below the top flange 144. The pad 156 is biased againstthe transfer roller 121 by a light torsion spring 151 which has an arm152 that is fastened to the front plate 143 by a screw and nutcombination 153, the screw being countersunk into the front plate 143 asshown in FIGURE 4. The other arm 154 of the torsion spring 151 is seatedwithin the vertical groove 139 in the front Wall 136 of the reservoircasting 129. Because the torsion spring 151 is positioned at the centerof the ink pad holder 142 and at the center of the front wall 136 of thereservoir casting 129, it causes the felt pad 156 to exert a uniformpressure against the transfer roller 121. The bottom of the felt pad 156rests and is free to pivot about a rib 155 on the rear wall 139. Thisaids in uniform pressure distribution against the transfer roller 121.

Although the roller frame casting 89 is pivotal about the roller framecasting shaft 86, it is biased toward the side plates and the operatingparts between them by a fairly strong torsion spring 156. The torsionspring 156 has a pair of arms 157 that extend Within the transversebores 36 in the tie rod 34. It then has coils 158 that are wound aboutthe roller frame casting shaft 86 with a loop 159 that extends below theshaft 86 diametrically opposite the spring arms 157. The crossplate 91of the roller frame casting 39 has a setscrew 160 threaded into it. Theloop 159 bears against the end of this setscrew 160 as shown in FIGURE4, and the setscrew 160 can be used to adjust the pressure of the spring156.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the Allen head screw 45 that connects one side ofthe platen roller shaft 43 to a side plate 21) also supports a pair ofwashers 162 spaced apart by a smaller bushing 163. A lever 164 ismounted upon the bushing 163 and is rotatable about the bushing. Asshown in FIGURE 2 the lever 164 has a forward cam surface 165 that bearsagainst the projecting end of the lockout stud 98 that supports one sideof the die wheel shaft 95. When the lever 164 is moved to the positionillustrated in FIGURE 2, it pivots the roller frame casting 89 againstthe force of the torsion spring 156, moving the die wheel assembly 93away from the platen roller 46. When the lever 164 is pivoted in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2, it releases the roller framecasting 89, and the torsion spring 156 biases the die wheel assembly 93toward the platen roller 46.

An example of a rubber inking plate 167 is shown in FIGURE 14. The plate167 has raised printing characters 168 on its outer surface and aplurality of parallel beaded tongues 169 projecting from its lowersurface. The tongues 169 snap into the space between, radially inward ofthe beads 111 of the thermoplastic discs on the die wheel assembly 93.

Operation Before the tape coder is used, the left and right tape guideassemblies 72 and 73 are adjusted along the guide pin 69 until the sideguide plates 81 are spaced apart by the proper distance according to thewidth of tape being fed through the coder. The spring loaded balls 77 onthe cylindrical block 74 lock the tape guide assemblies 72 and 73 in anyone of several selected positions according to the positions of thegrooves 71 on the guide pin 69. When the reservoir 129 is filled withink, and when the lever 164 releases the roller frame casting 89 so thatthe hard rubber wheels 1116 on the die wheel assembly 93 bear againstthe platen roller 46, the tape coder is ready for use.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, tape is fed into the coder between the sideplates 29 and between the back guide plate 54 and the front guide plate60. The tape travels past the guide roller 39 where its direction ischanged somewhat and moves through the space between the bent part 65 onthe front guide plate 61 and the opposing strip 57 on the back guideplate 54. Then the tape travels past the tie rod 37, past the platenroller 46, and is then turned somewhat around the exit roller 50 as itleaves the tape coder. The guide roller 39, the platen roller 46 and theexit roller 50 are all freely rotatable about their respective shaftsand therefore rotate according to the speed of the tape as it passesthrough the tape coder. The latter two rollers 46 and 50 are journaledupon ball bearings 47 and 51 to reduce friction.

As the tape rotates past the platen roller 46, it rotates the platenroller. When the platen roller rotates, its friction engagement with thehard rubber wheels 106 on the die roller assembly 93 causes the dieroller to rotate. As the die roller rotates, its rubber wheels 1116,which bear against the transfer roller 121, cause the transfer roller torotate across the felt ink pad 156.. The ink pad 15%) remains saturatedwith ink due to its capalliary action and applies a uniform, thin filmof ink onto the transfer roller 12-1, which, in turn, applies a film ofink to the raised characters 168 of the rubber printing plate 1 7. Afterpicking up ink from the transfer roller 121, the printing plate 167rotates with the die wheel assembly 93 in a clockwise direction as shownin FIGURE 4, and the printing characters 168, which extend beyond therubber wheels 1116, make their print upon the moving tape.

The density of the ink applied to the printing surfaces of the printingcharacters 168cm the printing plate 167 can be regulated by adjustingthe pressure applied by the transfer roller 121 to the printing plate.The transfer roller 121 can be adjusted in its position by rotation ofthe knurled end 118 of the shaft 116. Because of the eccentric nature ofthe central portion of the shaft 116, this rotation moves the transferroller 121 toward or away from the die roller assembly 93.

The pressure that the die wheel assembly 93 applies against the platenroller 46 can also be adjusted. Adjustment of the setscrew against theloop 159 of the coil spring 156 regulates the biasing force of the coilspring. It is usually preferable to maintain a relatively high pressureof this spring so that skidding between the platen roller 46 and the diewheel assembly 93 is eliminated.

It is easy to remove the ink reservoir casting 129 and the ink pad 159from the roller frame casting 89. Removal of the thumbscrew 134 releasesthe ink reservoir casting 129, and it can be drawn away from the casting89. As it is removed, the bifurcated ends 147 on the side arms 146 ofthe ink pad holder are withdrawn from the shaft 121. Thereafter, the inkpad holder 142 can be lifted out of the reservoir and both parts can bereadily cleaned.

The printing plate 167 is fastened to the die wheel assembly 93 bypressing its tongue projections 169 into the spaces between thethermoplastic discs 198. These discs yield longitudinally to admit theprojections 169. After the plate 167 is in place, it is held rigidly ina radial direction because the thermoplastic discs are radially stiif.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the process of thisinvention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A tape coder comprising a frame, means for guiding and feeding tapethrough the frame, a roller frame casting pivotally supported by theframe, a die roller assembly supported by the roller frame casting, atransfer assembly supported by the casting, and an ink applying assemblysupported by the casting, the ink applying assembly comprising an inkreservoir with a felt pad partially submerged Within the reservoir withan end projecting above the reservoir, the transfer roller assemblyincluding a transfer roller for applying ink to a printing plate carriedby the die roller assembly, and means for maintaining continual contactbetween the felt pad and the transfer roller, the die roller assemblyincluding a die roller having hard rubber wheels, the means for guidingthe tape through the frame comprising a platen roller, means for biasingthe roller frame casting toward the frame so that the die roller wheelsare pressed against the platen roller, and a lever operated cam and camfollower operably mounted on the frame and the roller frame casting, thelever operated cam having a cam surface shaped to alternately spread theframe and roller frame casting against the force of the biasing meansand release the frame and roller frame casting to respond to the biasingmeans.

2. In a tape coder having a frame and means for feed ing tape throughthe frame, an inking assembly comprising an ink reservoir, a felt pad,means for supporting the felt pad with a portion thereof submerged inink within the ink reservoir and a second portion projecting beyond theink reservoir, a cylindrical die roller rotatably supported by the frameand having printing characters on its surface, a cylindrical transferroller rotatably supported by the frame, the transfer roller beingmounted between the die roller and the felt pad with a part of thesurface of the transfer roller in contact with the printing charactorsand another part positioned to contact the second portion of the feltpad, asingle spring for biasing the felt pad toward and into contactwith the transfer roller, the

spring being positioned to apply pressure to a central portion of thefelt pad to permit the pad to swing about the pressure area to uniformlymaintain contact across its entire width with the transfer roller.

3. The tape coder of claim 2 wherein the means for supporting the feltpad comprises a pad holding frame within which the felt pad is mounted,a pair of side flanges projecting from opposite sides of the pad holdingframe toward the transfer roller, a generally horizontal slot in eachflange, the transfer roller being mounted on a shaft the opposite endsof which are receivable within the slots, the slots being shaped torestrict enerally vertical movement while permitting generallyhorizontal movement of the pad holding frame relative to the transferroller.

4. The tape coder of claim 2 including means for adjusting the angle ofinclination of the reservoir relative to the frame to thereby adjust thecontact pressure between the felt pad and the transfer roller.

5. The tape coder of claim 2 v herein the transfer roller is a phenolicsubstance 6. An ink applying assembly for coating the surfaces ofprinting characters that move past a predetermined position comprising acylindrical transfer roller, means for rotating the transfer roller sothat its surface passes the said predetermined position, an inkreservoir for containing a pool of ink, means having a portion submergedin the ink reservoir and another portion in contact with the transferroller for coating the transfer roller with ink by capillary action, andmeans for pressing the coating means against the surface of the transferroller, the coating means comprising a felt pad the said other portionof which is substantially as wide as the transfer roller, a frame forsupporting the felt pad, the means for pressing the coating meansagainst the surface of the transfer roller comprising a single springbearing against the center of the frame, the felt pad and frame beingsubstantially free of other supports so that the felt pad can pivotunder the pressure of the spring to apply uniform pressure to thetransfer roller.

7. The ink applying assembly of claim 6 wherein the spring is seatedagainst a wall of the ink reservoir, the said reservoir wall havinggroove means to hold the spring in a predetermined position.

References fitted hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,494,571 5/1924Balkwill 101228 1,617,086 2/1927 Stahle et al. 101226 1,827,667 10/1931Mowrey ll8-26O 1,914,502 6/1933 Heaton 10l2l6 1,988,056 1/1935 Storck101-1325 2,123,488 7/1938 Presby 10l228 X 2,465,160 3/1949 Levenhagen etal. lO1-132.5 2,641,999 6/1953 Jackson 10135O 2,655,103 10/1953l-lirschey 101--350 2,674,941 4/1954 Hopwood et al. 101-219 X 2,988,9906/1961 Worth 10l219 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

1. A TAPE CODER COMPRISING A FRAME, MEANS FOR GUIDING AND FEEDING TAPETHROUGH THE FRAME, A ROLLER FRAME CASTING PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THEFRAME, A DIE ROLLER ASSEMBLY SUPPORTED BY THE ROLLER FRAME CASTING, ATRANSFER ASSEMBLY SUPPORTED BY THE CASTING, AND AN INK APPLYING ASSEMBLYSUPPORTED BY THE CASTING, THE INK APPLYING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN INKRESERVOIR WITH A FELT PAD PARTIALLY SUBMERGED WITHIN THE RESERVOIR WITHAN END PROJECTING ABOVE THE RESERVOIR, THE TRANSFER ROLLER ASSEMBLYINCLUDING A TRANSFER ROLLER FOR APPLYING INK TO A PRINTING PLATE CARRIEDBY THE DIE ROLLER ASSEMBLY, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING CONTINUAL CONTACTBETWEEN THE FELT PAD AND THE TRANSFER ROLLER, THE DIE ROLLER ASSEMBLYINCLUDING A DIE ROLLER HAVING HARD RUBBER WHEELS, THE MEANS FOR GUIDINGTHE TAPE THROUGH THE FRAME COMPRISING A PLATEN ROLLER, MEANS FOR BIASINGTHE ROLLER FRAME CASTING TOWARD THE FRAME SO THAT THE DIE ROLLER WHEELSARE PRESSED AGAINST THE PLATEN ROLLER, AND A LEVER OPERATED CAM AND CAMFOLLOWER OPERABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME AND THE ROLLER FRAME CASTING, THELEVER OPERATED CAM HAVING A CAM SURFACE SHAPED TO ALTERNATELY SPREAD THEFRAME AND ROLLER FRAME CASTING AGAINST THE FORCE OF THE BIASING MEANSAND RELEASE THE FRAME AND ROLLER FRAME CASTING TO RESPOND TO THE BIASINGMEANS.